Dotting the ‘Eyes: Emory Jones’ shoulder injury, talking about the 2017 Texas linebackers and more

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Emory Jones injured, will miss 2-3 weeks

Ohio State 2018 quarterback commitment Emory Jones, a 5-star prospect at Franklin (Ga.) Heard County, will miss the next two or three weeks with a shoulder injury suffered on Thursday evening. The injury was first reported by Kevin Harrish of elevenwarriors.com, who was in Georgia for the game.

“I stretched the ball out to score,” Jones told Landof10.com on Friday morning. “When I scored, someone came and hit me late. I separated my shoulder.”

When asked how he was feeling after a night of rest, the future Buckeyes signal-caller said he was in significant pain.

“I can’t move much,” Jones said while en route to see a doctor. “It’s killing me.”

After seeing the doctor Friday morning, Jones’ prognosis and treatment was pretty standard for an injury of this nature. It’s serious – and seriously frustrating – but not severe.

“They gave me a couple of shots and I’m just going to have a lot of ice on it,” Jones added. “No contact for a week and I’ll likely miss two or three games. It’s a low-grade AC joint separation.”

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Jones, the nation’s second-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 class, also told Landof10.com that he’ll be back in Columbus, Ohio, one more time this season. He visited the Buckeyes for their home game against Rutgers on Oct. 1 and will return for the Nov. 26 showdown with Michigan.

Mitchell talking to Buckeyes

The country’s top-ranked 2018 inside linebacker, Bishop Sullivan Catholic (Virginia Beach, Va.) 5-star prospect Teradja Mitchell, continues to get to know Ohio State after being offered by the Buckeyes more than a year and a half ago.

The discussions with Mitchell, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker and the country’s 28th-ranked player, revolve mostly around whether, or when, he’ll finallymake a visit to Ohio State. In recent months he’s visited Clemson, Georgia, Florida State and West Virginia but has not yet made it to Columbus. He says he’s still trying to make that happen.

“Yes, I’m trying to visit there,” he said. “It looks like November or December.”

Ohio State has just one linebacker committed for 2017 – outside linebacker Antjuan Simmons – and an inside linebacker like Mitchell may be a priority in the 2018 class.

Texas talk

The need for a 2018 linebacker like Mitchell may be mitigated a touch if Ohio State is able to make something happen in Texas during the remainder of the 2017 cycle. The Buckeyes are set to get an official visit from the country’s top-ranked inside linebacker in 2017 – Plano East’s Anthony Hines III – at the end of October, but, according to one source close to Texas football, that visit may just be window dressing.

“I hear it’s Texas A&M all the way,” the source shared. “I’d be really surprised if he ended up leaving the state. His official visits are so random, places like Penn State and Florida, that just makes it seem even more like he already knows where he wants to go.”

OK, OK, so maybe it’s time to move on from the idea that Hines will commit to Ohio State in November? I still contend that if his official visit goes off as he says it will, there’s a chance things could change because of the need for an inside linebacker in this class, but we’ll see because if he doesn’t visit it’s moot anyway.

What about the other Texas linebacker in this cycle, Baron Browning? That one may be a bit more up in the air, according to this source, though another Texas school is feeling good right now: the Longhorns.

“I was told that Browning was pretty much set on Texas,” the source said. “But the issues there may end up helping send him Urban Meyer’s way.”

Why? Because of the Kennedale 5-star prospect’s relationship with another Texas 5-star cornerback, Jeffrey Okudah, who most believe will commit to Ohio State.

“If Charle Strong can’t right the ship and Texas decides to move on from him,” he added, “I’ll bet Baron goes with Jeff. Baron’s the guy Ohio State needs. He is special.”

Browning, the country’s second-ranked 2017 outside linebacker, will make an official visit to Ohio State on Nov. 26 for the Buckeyes’ home game against Michigan.